Cambridge woman who allegedly embezzled from local agency enters 'no contest' pleas; sentencing in November

Rick Stillion The Daily JeffersonianPublished: October 2, 2013 1:00PM

Cambridge resident Melissa Keylor, 43, entered negotiated "no contest" pleas Tuesday in the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court to a bill of information charging her with two theft-related offenses for embezzling more than $30,000 while serving with Guernsey County Children Services and the Guernsey County Advocacy Center.

Keylor will be sentenced for the crimes of theft in office and grand theft, both fourth-degree felonies, on Nov. 18.

She is alleged to have stolen $1,710.98 from Children Services and $29,559.40 from the Advocacy Center from January 2010 through Dec. 31, 2012.

Keylor waived her legal right to have the case presented to a grand jury during Tuesday's hearing before Judge David A. Ellwood.

The maximum sentence Keylor faces is 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for each conviction for a total of 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine plus any restitution ordered by the court.

Prosecutor Daniel G. Padden said he will not oppose Community Control Sanctions for Keylor if restitution is paid in full prior to the sentencing hearing. Padden expects to utilize Keylor's Public Employee's Retirement System savings to pay the restitution once the total is approved by the court.

The court will review evidence to determine the final amount of restitution which authorities contend totals $31.270.38.

The remaining sentence will also be at the discretion of the court at the November hearing.

A pre-sentence investigation report was ordered by the court.

Keylor served as a supervisor for Guernsey County Children Services and was contracted as the coordinator for the Advocacy Center. She has resigned from her positions with both organizations.

Guernsey County Children Services and the Advocacy Center each have a board of directors that oversee daily operations.

According to Padden, the case was initially referred to the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office for investigation but due to the close working relationship formerly between Keylor and local detectives, Tuscarawas County Det. Jeff Moore was assigned to handle the investigation.

"Upon receipt of the results of Det. Moore's investigation, the bill of information was filed with the court," said Padden.

"Guernsey County Children Services has, and will continue, to work with law enforcement and the prosecutor to recoup any misused funds and to move forward, despite this regrettable event," said Nicole Caldwell, executive director of the Guernsey County Children Services Board. "Due to the policies and procedures that were in place at the time, the loss of funds was minimized for our agency.

"Ms. Keylor's actions are in no way reflective of the practices and values set forth by Guernsey County Children Services and are unacceptable and contradictory of our mission. Guernsey County Children Services will continue to work with its partners to protect children and strengthen families in our community," Caldwell concluded.